Valsts kanceleja director nominee Gorkšs pledges to combine enthusiasm with practical experience

Kaspars Gorkšs, director general of the Latvian Employers' Confederation (LDDK), says that if he becomes director of the State Chancellery, the country's top civil servant, he would push for a more efficient public administration and "combine enthusiasm with practical experience". Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (of the United List, AS) is putting him forward for the post, and the government will consider his appointment at its 13 October meeting. The State Chancellery is the centre of Latvia's government and ensures the cabinet can function.

Sports past and education

In social media posts, Gorkšs notes that part of his career was spent in professional sport. He acknowledges that such a public career can create stereotypes, but stresses that for nine years after retiring as an athlete his interests, education and work have been closely tied to administration and public governance. He holds a bachelor's degree in law and a master's degree in political science.

While working in the non-governmental sector, he says, he gained insight into practical politics and the drafting of legislation, and set up a new municipal educational institution in Jūrmala. He developed his management skills leading the Jūrmala Football School and the day-to-day operations of the LDDK. In recent years he has regularly attended Saeima committee meetings, working with ministries, state institutions and all political parties.

Gorkšs says he has often seen good ideas get stuck in the corridors. In his view, change in public administration cannot be achieved from outside, yet entrenched habits are hard to alter from within as well. That, he says, was the basis for entering the competition.

The selection process

Kulbergs expects the State Chancellery to become a strong, data-driven centre of government that helps decisions be made faster and more accurately. He believes Gorkšs has the experience to deliver the changes he has defined, and thanked all three finalists.

The selection had three rounds. Of 18 applications, nine candidates advanced to the second round and three to the third: Ieva Jaunzeme, former director general of the State Revenue Service; Agita Kalviņa, director of the State Administration School; and Gorkšs. The third round assessed leadership competencies, including strategic vision, decision-making, and change and team management.

The previous director, Raivis Kronbergs, was detained in May in the so-called timber industry case. He was first suspended, and the parties later agreed that he would leave the post.